If My Heart Had Wings
Studio album by
Melissa Manchester
Released1995
Studio
  • Rumbo Recorders, Record One and Image Recording Studios (Los Angeles, California)
  • Conway Studios and Andora Studios (Hollywood, California)
  • Can-Am Recorders (Tarzana, California)
  • Aire L.A. Studios (Glendale, California)
  • Atlantic Studios and Skyline Studios (New York City, New York)
GenreJazz, pop, rock
LabelAtlantic[1]
Producer
Melissa Manchester chronology
Tribute
(1989) 		If My Heart Had Wings
(1995) 		Joy
(1997)

If My Heart Had Wings is an album by the American musician Melissa Manchester, released in 1995.[2][3] It was a commercial disappointment.[4][5]

Manchester promoted the album by performing the album's first single, "In a Perfect World", on the soap opera General Hospital.[6][7]

Production

The album was executive produced by Arif Mardin and Michael Lippman.[8] Due to Manchester's work on the musical I Sent a Letter to My Love, the album was produced over a period of two years.[9] "If My Heart Had Wings" was written with Amy Sky.[10]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[11]
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution[12]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[13]
Entertainment WeeklyC+[14]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide[15]
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette[16]

Entertainment Weekly wrote that "too often, the tunes on If My Heart Had Wings sound like bland anthems in search of a maudlin movie score."[14] The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette thought that "Manchester turns in a hopelessly-out-of-it performance that serves as a harsh reminder that having great pipes is no guarantee of success."[16] The Atlanta Journal-Constitution opined that it was "too bad Manchester couldn't take a cue from Bonnie Raitt, whose music has grown along with her shock of gray hair and her insight."[12]

AllMusic wrote that the album was "filled with big, dramatic ballads and widescreen production values."[11] MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide considered the album to be "not a great work [but] representative of her talent."[15]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The House That Love Built"Melissa Manchester, Dana Merino, Matt Sherrod4:25
2."In a Perfect World"Jud Friedman, Alan Rich, Wendy Waldman4:14
3."If My Heart Had Wings"Melissa Manchester, Eric Kaz, Amy Sky4:13
4."Heart of Love"Billie Hughes, Roxanne Seeman4:23
5."To Be in Love with Me"Jody Davidson3:55
6."Here to Love You"Michael McDonald4:25
7."Higher Ground"Kent Agee, Steve Dorff, George Green4:18
8."Crazy People"Edgar Leslie, James V. Monaco2:33
9."Moments Like This"Alan Rich, Pam Reswick, Steve Werfel4:42
10."Don't Let Me Walk This Road Alone"David Foster, Keith Thomas, Linda Thompson4:10

[17]

Personnel

Production

References

  1. ^ "Fall Music". The Advocate. Here Publishing. September 20, 1994 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ Lasswell, Mark (Feb 6, 1995). "Picks & pans — If My Heart Had Wings by Melissa Manchester". People. 43 (5): 27.
  3. ^ Green, Blake (6 Feb 1995). "She Knows the Score". Newsday. p. B3.
  4. ^ Deggans, Eric (29 Nov 1996). "Multitalented Manchester". St. Petersburg Times. Weekend. p. 25.
  5. ^ Bream, Jon (20 Aug 1996). "Manchester leans to musicals". Star Tribune. p. 1E.
  6. ^ "SINGER CHECKS INTO 'HOSPITAL'". The Star-Ledger. News. August 3, 1994.
  7. ^ Hart, Marla (11 Aug 1994). "In the late '60s, when the pace of daytime drama was slower...". Chicago Tribune. Tempo. p. 13.
  8. ^ "Album Reviews". Billboard. 107 (5): 94. Feb 4, 1995.
  9. ^ Renzetti, Elizabeth (16 June 1994). "Manchester's music guides her home". The Globe and Mail. p. E3.
  10. ^ LeBlanc, Larry (Apr 13, 1996). "Amy Sky reaches new heights". Billboard. 108 (15): 64.
  11. ^ a b "If My Heart Had Wings - Melissa Manchester | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  12. ^ a b Longino, Miriam (January 28, 1995). "If My Heart Had Wings Melissa Manchester". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. L16.
  13. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 5. MUZE. p. 462.
  14. ^ a b "If My Heart Had Wings". EW.com.
  15. ^ a b MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 710.
  16. ^ a b Collins, Tracy (10 Mar 1995). "MELISSA MANCHESTER IF MY HEART HAD WINGS". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT. p. 16.
  17. ^ "ACE Repertory - HEART OF LOVE (FR HEAVENLY KID)".
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